Q0421
“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain…” — Jeremy Bentham (IPML, Ch. 1)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: IPML, Ch. 1. Theme: life.
English
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to IPML, Ch. 1 and files it under Utilitarianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) was the English founder of classical utilitarianism and a relentless legal reformer. Trained at Oxford and Lincoln’s Inn, he spent decades drafting codes, critiquing common law fictions, and proposing institutions such as the Panopticon.
How to read this passage
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.
Concepts in this quote
- Life
- Philosophy quotes about life ask what makes a life good, meaningful, or worth examining—questions that drive ethics, religion, and everyday decision.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Jeremy Bentham. (n.d.). Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0421
MLA: Jeremy Bentham. “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0421.
Chicago: Jeremy Bentham. “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0421.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of…”?
The passage is attributed to Jeremy Bentham, IPML, Ch. 1. The archive attributes this English wording to IPML, Ch. 1 and files it under Utilitarianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Jeremy Bentham mean by life?
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.